Zimbabwe opposition won't meet with mediator Mbeki; Mugabe greets him at the airport
HARARE, Zimbabwe -- The Zimbabwean opposition said Friday that no one from the party would meet with visiting South African President Thabo Mbeki, who it says should be replaced as mediator in the country's political crisis.
President Robert Mugabe met Mbeki at the airport Friday as the South African leader arrived for another round of talks. Neither spoke to reporters.
George Sibotshiwe, spokesman for opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, said Mbeki was regarded as biased toward Mugabe.
"Our president has no confidence in Mbeki," he said.
Tsvangirai, head of the Movement for Democratic Change, said he beat Mugabe outright in March 29 elections, but the electoral commission said last week that although the opposition leader won the most votes, he did not get the required simple majority and that a runoff was needed.
Mugabe has been accused of orchestrating violence against the opposition since the first round, raising questions about whether a runoff would be free or fair.
The opposition has not said whether it will take part in a runoff. No date has been set for the vote, although Mugabe has already begun campaigning.
"We are not part of that process," Sibotshiwe said of Friday's meetings. "It is part of an independent process that Mbeki is doing with Mugabe."
This is Mbeki's third visit to Zimbabwe as mediator on behalf of the Southern African Development Community. The South African foreign affairs department said he was to meet with Zimbabwe's "political leadership," but gave no further details.
After a visit to Harare last month, Mbeki was heavily criticized for saying Zimbabwe was not in crisis.
Mbeki has preferred to follow a policy of "quiet diplomacy" toward Zimbabwe, believing that Mugabe will not respond to a confrontational approach.
Tsvangirai has called for Mbeki to step aside and for Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, who has been more critical of Mugabe, to take over mediation.
As Zimbabwe awaits word on when a presidential runoff will be held, opposition party supporters are increasingly under attack.
Independent rights activists have accused the ruling party of using the time to mount a campaign of violence and intimidation to undermine support for the opposition before a runoff.
Tsvangirai and his party's secretary-general Tendai Biti are in South Africa, lobbying for international support but also saying they fear arrest or attack should they return.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
